State fire crackdown urged
The entire State would be assessed and rated for bushfire danger and local and State government landholders forced to reduce fuel loads under the biggest shake-up of WA's emergency services legislation.
The move, to be recommended by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services today, would spawn a new industry of prescribed burning contractors, take a decade to implement and place untold cost on taxpayers and ratepayers.
Binding the Crown to WA's emergency services legislation is the most contentious recommendation of a review launched in November 2012 that provides the roadmap for amalgamating three separate Acts dating as far back as 1942.
DFES' concept paper, out for public comment until July 31, argues the move is necessary to create a consistent approach to fuel load reduction and bushfire mitigation across land tenures, be they private, State or council-owned.
DFES does not have the power to compel local councils - or State Government landholders such as Main Roads and Water Corporation - to reduce fuel loads or install fire breaks.
The review recommends empowering FES Commissioner Wayne Gregson to direct local governments, ending the incongruity of councils issuing work orders to private landholders to reduce fuel while ignoring their own vast reserves.
"The principle underpinning the proposed changes to the current legislative position is that every piece of land needs to have the level of natural hazard identified in respect of that land, with a treatment plan where required," the paper says.
The process must be transparent and visible, with a clarity of roles and accountability.
The paper concedes the move "would place substantial cost pressures upon the crown" that cannot be determined until all State land has been assessed.
Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis said he accepted that "sometimes you've got to spend money to save money".
"I don't want to pre-empt anything here, but I accept that if you expect Government should force private land owners to do their bit, then you'd have to expect that Government should do their bit," he said.
